2024 was a year of incredible privilege for me whereby I was able to visit the furthest reaches of our planet engaged in my endeavor to artistically capture the essence of our planet’s most iconic species. It was also a year where we achieved objectives relating to conservation as well as inspiring awareness.
The significant moments from the second half of the year that I would like to share with you are very varied.
June
June graced us with the opportunity to not only hear the metallic sounding coda of the male sperm whale, but also to feel it. The experience of being in the water with these males whilst they deployed their powerful sonar clicks was extremely powerful … it felt as if it went right through me.
To be right next to an animal who can dive for two hours on a single breath of air, produces the loudest sound of any living creature, has the largest brain, and engages in gladiatorial like battles with Architheuthis, the giant squid, on a daily basis, is humbling to say the least.
In June we achieved a major milestone in our endeavor to reach major global audiences with the opening of a year-long exhibition encompassing 50 meters of wall space at Dubai International Airport. The themes are titled ‘The 11th Hour’ and ‘Moments in Time.’
This exhibition of 19 of my best-known works is in collaboration with Dubai Airports and endeavors to give meaning to the “why” behind DXB’s CEO, Paul Griffiths, and his team’s sustainability and anti-wildlife trafficking efforts.
Personally, each time I travel through this aviation hub I feel extremely proud. It is an incredible honor to be able to inspire and represent our planet’s natural icons in such a high-profile location to many of the estimated 100 million annual passengers.
It continues to be gratifying to be sent pictures from travelers, friends, family, and sometimes even famous strangers standing alongside the works who in turn will continue to expose the message.
Please send me yours if you pass by the exhibit located between terminal B&C!
August
During August we visited Alaska as an invited guest lecturer for Silversea Cruises. Here I was given the opportunity to showcase my imagery and narrative of my experiences with our natural world as we travelled through one of the world’s most scenic areas. Ecologically, seeing how the Alaskan salmon fishery has been so successfully managed was revealing in so much that, even with unbelievable human pressure, there can be ways found for both wildlife and consumptive extraction to exist.
September
September saw time spent in Namibia and Etosha National Park. Etosha has been a staple in my life for nearly fifty years. I simply love the chalky dust, simple backgrounds and minimalistic feel that is afforded as a creative element. This year, photographing the ravages of yet another terrible drought, yet again drove home the reality of climate change.
October
At the end of October we headed to Norway. Seeing upwards of 100 orca per day in stunning scenery was mind blowing. But, also being made aware of the consequences and effects of the huge herring fishery in this area that entangles both orcas and humpbacks, as well as thousands of birds, was sobering.
From the orcas we headed into the mountains to search for musk oxen, an ancient giant goat that has survived through ice ages. The sight and opportunity to photograph these animals alone, whilst rim lit engaged in their cranium crunching battles of dominance, is one we will never forget.
With just 220 remaining in Norway, their last stronghold in Europe, a changing climate once again threatens them in a different way. Historically long periods of cold would ensure snow that they could dig through to find food on the high slopes. But with abnormally warm days in winter becoming more common, the snow melts and then with a quick freeze it is turned into ice that the musk ox can no longer dig through.
December
Having reached December, the super groups of whales have once again returned. We have spent several epic days photographing the whales where, aside from creating fine art imagery, we also contribute fluke photos to both citizen science initiatives like Happywhale, as well as scientists working to understand the whales’ movements along our coastline. To date in December, we have photographed over 150 different whales, several of which are familiar flukes from 2023.
Conservation News
Finally, just a few days ago, we received the good news that a court case we, alongside a small group of other equally passionate non-governmental shark scientists and conservationists, had been part of initiating and pushing for over the last five years against a shark longline boat caught poaching in South Africa’s flagship marine protected area, came to a close.
For those of you who have followed my work as a shark conservationist, you will know that these demersal shark longliners were a subject close to my heart. We have seen and photographed firsthand the devastation they have wrought along one of the world’s most bio diverse coastlines, killing hundreds of thousands of sharks including many endemic, threatened and protected species that were then shipped to Australia for fish and chips known as flake.
Thanks to continued pressure, and the effort of the state prosecuting team, the owners of the vessel, The White Rose, were found guilty on all four counts ranging from illegally fishing in an MPA, to damage to the environment. A huge congratulations to the prosecuting team and judge who did what was right, whilst not being politically easy. Please read the full story here.
Conservation Support
During 2024 we were proud to have donated several of our works to raise funds for various charities including Wild Africa in the US, and Shark Spotters in South Africa, cumulatively raising approximately R250,000 for these charities.
Through our imagery we were also able to give presentations in various locations around the world to highlight the need to support incredible efforts like Orkca , MyTrees and Six Rivers Africa, whose efforts we have firsthand experience with as they strive to conserve biodiversity and increase wildlife corridors.
Sales
In terms of sales, we have had continued interest in our limited edition collection as edition numbers of some of our key works such as The Fig and Elephant, Warrior, Air Jaws, Brotherhood and Defiance are nearing the end of their edition of 12.
As we say goodbye to 2024 I would like to thank so many of you for your support.
Again a few special mentions, Michael Markland from Kashaf Global has been instrumental in bringing influential people and groups to the table to discuss conservation projects with me.
Neel Shukla from Four seasons Ramesh Gallery for his work in creating opportunities and installing the wonderful exhibit at DXB.
The DXB team for their continued support and positive feedback about the impact of the DXB exhibition.
Damon Crowhurst for exhibiting my work at the Saatchi Gallery and his ongoing support through Lekker Gallery.
To all of you who have either purchased a work, or simply reached out with an encouraging word, thank you. I hope in 2025 to have some exciting new works to share for your consideration as I try out a few innovative ways to attempt to capture evocative imagery.
Finally, to those in the field, the individuals, NGO’s, rangers, scientists, law enforcement officials and prosecutors tasked with protecting our planet’s most amazing and fragile habitats, thank you. Without you my lens would point at an empty world.
Wishing all on our planet enlightenment, and a more tolerant way of existing with, rather than vanquishing, our natural world in 2025.
Best regards, Chris
Thank you to Jono Allen for the title image.